Engaging but very intense for sensitive children. Repeated parental loss and danger.

On June 2, 1609, the Sea Adventure plus eight other ships sailed from Plymouth, England bound for the colony Virginia. These ships were bringing relief to the settlers of Jamestown as this young colony was at war with the natives and facing starvation. A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla is a children’s tale based on this episode. During the crossing a massive storm struck and drove the Sea Adventure aground off the shore of Bermuda. The settlers spent nine months on Bermuda and managed to built two smaller ships that they sailed safely to Jamestown. They luckily brought a lot of food with them from Bermuda and these supplies helped to keep Jamestown going until more ships arrived from London.

A Lion to Guard Us is aimed at children that are 8 to 12 years and because of this there really isn’t a lot of detail added to the story or character development. Amanda is a thirteen year old girl who after the death of her mother, is trying to get herself and her younger sister and brother to Jamestown to find their father. They find a berth on the Sea Adventure. The historical details are slight with most of the author’s attention being on the story of these children dealing with all that is placed in their way. Written in a straight forward, simple style for middle school age children, I think perhaps this story might be too simple to appeal to today’s children. It is interesting to note that the story of the Sea Adventure caught the attention of William Shakespeare and he went on to base his play The Tempest on this lost ship. ( )

Summary: In this book their are three children, who are forced to try and fend for themselves. Their father is in America trying to help settle the new colonies, but shortly after he left, the mother became extremely sick and passed away. They decided they would take a boat to America in hopes of finding their father, but a terrible storm comes and causes a shipwreck, leaving them stranded on an island. They have to endure many trials while living on the island with the other families as they wait for a new ship to be built.

Personal Reaction: I couldn't believe this was a children's book, because I did not want to set it down. The book uses great detail in order to draw you in to the story. I am sure children between the ages of third to sixth grade would really enjoy getting to read this book.

Classroom Extension:
1. After the child read the book, I would have them do an art project. I would give them supplies like rocks, sticks, popsicle sticks, leaves, etc... and I would have them build their own mini hut, like what they imagined the ones that the children were living in on the island.
2. I would do a "tell your own island story" work sheet were the children would use their imagination in order to tell what they think it would be like to be stranded on an island and how they would use their brains to escape.

This could be my first historical fiction outside of schoolbooks (waayyy back when;)). I loved it. ( )

Historical fiction based on three young children crossing to Jamestown. Written in language easy for young reader to understand. Story did not go into enough depth in order for reader to become really engaged in the story. ( )